I forgot to mention... this being the first time you went out by yourselves you did pretty good! Do NOT beat yourself up about it. You would have felt A LOT worse had you had your son take the shot and he would have missed/wounded it. Those birds have already forgot about you by now, and should still be huntable.

Don't worry about it Bigtimer - you did well for a firsthunt. It took me three seasons to kill a bird (we didn't have many turkeys and I made every mistake in the book) when I started. Turkey hunting is a very challenging sport.

JW and others have given you some great advice. I don't use blinds so I can'toffer anything else other than encourage you by saying keep trying and don't ever give up.

Dude dont thatworry about it, that was a great first hunt. Even with some of the mistakes that JW pointed out to you, you still had them in killing range for most people but you were right 40 yards can be a bit far for a young one with a 20 gauge.

Tough break. You might never know what happened, maybe silhouetted, maybe that Tom just wanted your deke to come to him. I've had lots of birds hang up at the sight of the deke and never take a step into range. I can't remember how many hunts I had been on before I actually got to just SEE a bird. You keep at it and your sons time will come, hopefully while you're doubling up with him!

Thats rough man. just remember that what we try to do is completely against nature. the hens usually go to the toms not the other way around.
You should be proud that you got the birds into 40 yards without callin. Ive seen people that have been hunting for years and have never got a bird that close.
Big Props to you man.